John lane leigh



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LANE LEIGH, OF GRENADA, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. B. CROUCH, SAME PLACE.

STEAM FOOD-COOKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,516, dated November 26, 1895. Application filed June 10, 1895. Serial No. 552,291. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN LANE LEIGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Grenada, in the county of Grenada and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Food- Cookers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through same on line a: m, Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified form of invention; and Fig. 4 is a rear View of tank B and pipes J, leading therefrom, the back wall of said tank being removed. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line a: m, Fig. 2, looking upward.

This invention is designed to provide improved means for cooking food, fruits, preserves, jellies &c., by steam and for extracting essences and other similar purposes; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to theaccompanying drawings, the letter A designates the case of the cooker, which in the present case is of rectangular form and is mounted upon a tank or watervessel B. One side of the case A is closed by a door 0, which is preferably hinged at one of its vertical edges, as shown, but which may be made removable without hinges, if desired. Supported removably within said case, one above another, are a series of smaller vessels D, which are provided each with a cover d, which is preferably hinged thereto, each vessel being also usually provided with a perforated false bottom E, supported therein. In the present instance the supports for these vessels are shown as consisting of a series of angle-plates F, which are riveted to the walls of the case; but other suitable means may be employed. It will be observed from the drawings that the door Chas on its inner face an inwardly-projecting marginal flange it into a series of compartments.

0, which is arranged to fit closely against the walls of the case; also, that the lids or covers d of the several vessels are provided with flanges d, which fit neatly over the edges of the vessels. The object of such construction is to prevent as far as possible the escape of steam from the vessels and from the cooker.

G is a catch for holding the door 0 closed, and g wherever seen designates rings or handles for convenience in handling the several parts to which they are applied.

H designates a filling-spout for the tank B and which communicates with the chamber of said tank near the bottom.

I I designates oblique vertical partitions which extend across the said tank and divide The partitions are shown as being oblique in the present instance in order that the pipes J may be located as near together as possible. These partitions, it will be noted, do not extend down to the bottom of the tank, but there is left a space of an inch, more or less, between their lower edges and such bottom. This permitsa circulation of water in the tank, but renders such compartments watersealed, whereby the steam generated in each is confined to each. Leading from the upper portion of each compartment is a steam-pipe J, which extends up along the outside of the case A, at the rear side thereof, and terminates in a nozzle j, which extends through such wall and through an opening in one of the cooking-vessels, into which it is arranged to discharge.

It will be noted that each cooking-vessel has its own steam-pipe and that the steam dischargedby each pipe is generated in its own separate compartment. The pipes J being all of the same size an equal amount of steam is conveyed through each and the contents of each vessel are equally cooked.

The filling-spout H forms a safety-valve for the tank, owing to the fact that when there is a heavy pressure of steam 'in the compartments the water will be forced up in this spout. The spout being large and broad permits of the tank being readily cleaned.

Although I have in the present instance shown three of the cooking-vessels and the same number of compartments and steampipes, I desire it to be understood that any desired number of vessels, compartments, and pipes may be employed.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of the invention wherein the bottom of the tank B is left open and the tank is designed to be set into a separate and slightly-larger tank or vessel 13, in which the water is placed. In this form of the invention the steam-pipes .l are extended up inside of the case A, the idea being to prevent loss of heat by radiation and exposure. The feature of the separate tank 13 may be preferred by some, since it renders the tank 13 somewhat easierto clean.

It will be understood that the cooker is to be set upon a stove or range or over a suitable burner while in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The herein described steam cooking appliance, comprising a case having separate cooking chambers, a steam generator divided into separate steam chambers by partitions extending from the top thereof to below the normal water level of the generator, and an independent steam duct leading to each of said chambers and communicating with one of said steam chambers, substantially as specified.

:2. The herein described steam cooking appliance, comprising a steam generator divided into separate steam chambers by partitions extending from the top thereof to below the normal water level of the generator, the case supported upon said generator, a number of closed and separate cooking vessels designed to be supported in said case and having each a perforated false bottom, and a close fitting 1 door, and an independent steam duct leading to each of said vessels and arranged to disports, a number of separate closed cooking vessels designed to removablyrcst upon said supports, and a series of separate steam pipes each of which is arranged to discharge into one of said cooking vessels and is connected to one of'said steam chambers, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. LANE LEIGH, \Vitnesses WV. B. BARNES, VAN. W. WILLIAM. 

